Amar’e Stoudemire on Nude Cover: ‘Knicks Approved’

STAT tells the NY Post that the decision-makers within the Knicks organization had no problem with him posing nude for ESPN the Mag. Your eyes, however, may not necessarily be in agreement with them: “I was extremely nervous,’ Stoudemire said. ‘I was probably more nervous doing that than taking the final shot of the game.’ Stoudemire said it was not trick photography. He really was naked. ‘It was just my hand,’ Stoudemire said. ‘There were a lot of takes, and that’s why there’s photo-shopping.’ Stoudemire was honored to be asked to participate. ‘They were like, only a few athletes who have the ideal body for that sport,’ said Stoudemire, who is known for his 32-inch waist. ‘At first I said, ‘I don’t know about this.’ I thought about it, saw a few past magazines and said I’d do the shoot.’ The shoot took place in mid-July in Hollywood when he was in town for the ESPY Awards, days after officially signing with the Knicks. The revealing photos beg the question of whether Stoudemire is putting too much of himself out there, too soon. ‘Everybody [with the Knicks] approved,’ Stoudemire said. ‘That’s how it works. Everybody gave the thumbs up.'”